San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-14
X 10 the NorDury gate to meet CraN-

&C me, my love" he whispered, come
you are late. The carriage Is Onlya few
wards of. W. shall have enough TO do to
catch the train. Gomez
stood facing him by the gate.
at is |, Mr.. Garden" | said clearly. 81
think you are installing me for some one
else"
He remained moment stOck-still, gulp-
ing down an involuntary oath; and knew
there was rage in the dark face | could not
see. When he answered, his voice was
softer and nleasanter than ever; the unsus-
picious could have detected the false ring
of such carefully base metal.
This is indeed surprise, Miss Thornel
Will you allow me TO accompany you where
you may be gOingP Ii is far too late for
young lady to be out alone"
IL am going no farther than this gate"
replied. 81 came TO see you"
II am hardly deserving Of such cOmpli-
ment; but that appreciate ii need hardly
say. Can L do anything for your
II come from Lady Martin POmeroy."
'Indeedp' He allowed himself TO betray
nothing beyond curiosity.
"Are you not anxious to hear further, Mr..
Carden?'
81 am ready to receive her ladyship's
message"
''she desires the return of letters in your
possession"
"In my possessIonI What lettersP My
dear Viola"
"Mr. Garden, know all about them. Do
not trouble to explain"
His mild expostulatOry tone changed a
little, but only little; he was too wise to
hetray feeling; and he answered with quiet
scepticism-
Don't you think Lady Martin had better
come to transact her own business herselfp'
Lady Martin has not the least intention
of coming"
Then kindly tell her, with all Difference,
that l must answer her letters are too valu-
able to be parted with even at the bidding
of Miss Thorne."
"And what good,"l cried, ''can they be
to youP What would II avail you to make
her unhappy, even II by them you could
part husband and wifep Is it of no use, Mr..
Garden, to appeal to your generosity-to beg
you not to take advantage of woman's
moments of weaknessT
1T would be better IL you would leave
this matter to be settled by those who I'M
derstandit- You are exciting yourself quite
unnecessarily"
you shall Judge presently whether I'M
derstand it. Iappeal to your honor as a
gentleman, Mr.. Garden, and to your wisdom
as lawyer. What advantage do you look
for? Is II one whose loss cannot be recon-
pensed to you? If do not speak of right
and integrity and conscience, will you not
be magnanimous? l thought man would
scorn so mean revenge"
81 really must decline to have anything
to do with third person interfering in mat
tiers which concern only myself and Lady
Martin PomerOy."
"And you refuse to return those lettersP'
Certainly"
Because they are hers, and 1t Is l who
ask for them? You need not make that, at
least, your reason. What ground have you
for suppOsing them to be written by Lady
Martin? l grant that she was cOgnisant of
them, that her maid gave them to you. But
do you know her writing so well? She may
have been foolish, she may not have acted
always as Lord Martins wife should have
done; but do you imagine for moment that
she would in writing compromise herself
with you? Keep your letters; but let them
laugh who win. Even lawyer may be de-
ceivedp
saw him start, and felt his eyes flash on
me- 1t was well that the darkness hid my
face, and that he could not see how my
trembling belied the cool tones whose bold
ness inwardly maryelled at.
$40 you dare" he said, ito tell me that
Lady Martin did not write thcm?'
Dare is strong word TO use, Mr.. Car
dem"
"POohl Do you expect me to believe that
trumped-up tale? For what reason, pray,
am entreated to return them?'
1T is |, not Lady Martin, who asks you.
They are of no use to you, and | will give
five hundred pounds for them. There are
only four; it is not bad value"
Lady Martin offered me a thousand"
so suppose; but my offer is in good
faith"
You mean that hers was nOt?''
"a mean what you like to make of my
words, Mr. Garden. | offer no explanation.
have discOvered-she who had learned to
know you has taught me-that you were
writing to her, pretending to be in love with
her, while to me"
He took the bait offered him. 1t was
last, bitter, and desperate attempt to save
GwendOline. did not think he could hurt
me, but indeed hardly considered it then.
Anything to rescue poor unhappy GwendO-
line, at the mercy, as she had truly said, of
one utterly mercileSs.
broke off abruptly. Idared not say more;
and with wildly-beating heart stood look
ing down on the ground, shivering with fear
from head to foot
He paused to think over his next move.
hoped that he would think the owner of the
Grange would pay him a more remunerative
price than he could win from Lady Martin
Pomeroy. thought he would name some
heavy sum. Even If he did not believe me,
II would be more profitable thus to terrOrise
over me than over her, for he must see that
there was no chance of winning GwendO-
line. He answered in the ingratiating tones
l had ever hated; but was fool enough to
think they proved me the victor, puzzled
though was.
ut shall be-" he said, exactly as you
wish. l will give the letters to you, but to
you only. For your sake and Lady Mar
tins, can trust to no other hands. Meet
me tomorrow evening at nine O'Clock; you
shall have them"
Il shall be here"
This is too near the high-road. l will
meet you by the shrubbery gate. Give my
compliments to Lady Martin PomerOy, and
tell her that when she Is frank she need not
fear me. retallate only on those who de-
ceive me. Don't stay out longer, Viola; it
is late and cold"
hurried away, and ran across the close
cut turf to the Grange. l opened the door,
and passed from the ghostly rustling trees
and the night-air into the dark corridor, and
then into the warm lighted hall, and, as
came there, was brought suddenly face to
face with Hilda.